Hundreds of firefighters have been tackling heathland blazes across the UK, including at the Queen's Balmoral estate in Scotland. .

Heathland fires were still raging across parts of the Scottish Highlands, Ireland and England yesterday after an extended dry spell.

The light aircraft crashed in a field near Old Sarum Airfield, north of Salisbury, Wiltshire a spokesman for Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said.

Rioters at an Australian immigration detention centre have set fire to several buildings, climbed onto rooftops and hurled tiles at officials who are scrambling to bring the protest to an end.

A suspected burglar has been rescued in China after he was found hanging from the side of a six-storey building.

A leading union representing paramedics warned yesterday that the closure of ambulance stations to meet NHS cost-cutting would inevitably have an impact on frontline services and staff. Simon Jones of the Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel said a review under way in Greater Manchester, which has left the future of half the region's stations in doubt, could result in crews spending more time travelling to restock drugs and medical equipment or taking breaks.

Around 40 firefighters put out a blaze at a warehouse in north London, emergency services said today.

An inquiry has been launched into claims that a woman went out on 999 calls after fooling ambulance staff into believing she was a trainee paramedic.

The coroner in charge of the 7/7 inquests criticised emergency services bosses today for using too much jargon.

The company that runs London's fleet of fire engines faces a financial crisis over unpaid taxes after the Inland Revenue applied for a winding-up petition from the court.

Firefighters in Western Australia have been battling wildfires which have razed 4,000 acres around Perth and destroyed at least 40 homes, as the east coast recovers from a cyclone and record flooding.

A fire in the carnival district of Rio de Janeiro has destroyed warehouses holding costumes and floats for next month's festival.

More than 30 firefighters are tackling a blaze at a five-star country guest house.

Two people died and one woman was taken to hospital after a fire broke out in a block of flats today.